Handling and holding drill pipes and the like



Oct. 2, 1934. R. CLARK 1,975,448

HANDLING AND HOLDING DRILL PIPES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 29, 1934- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Big];

INVENTOR A RayR. CZar/c Oct. 2, 1934. R. R. CLARK HANDLING AND HOLDING DRILL PIPES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 29, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 RayR.Clar1@ BY QL.. ;8&A%

Patented Oct. 2, 1934 HANDLING AND HOLDING DRILL PIPES AND THE LIKE Ray R. Clark, Fallon, Nev.

Application January 29, 1934, Serial No. 708,924 10 Claims. (01. 211-60) This invention relates'to the well drilling industry, my principal objects being to provide a device to hold: drill pipes in place, to facilitate the storing or releasingof the same 'inthe course i of shortening or lengthening the string of drill pipe; and to materially reduce the hazards to theworkers. now common with these operations.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I'accomplish by means of suc structure and relative arrangement of parts as -will.fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a plan outline of a drill tower showingmy'device mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan View of the main unit of the device, showing one section tripped to permit a length of drill-pipe to move intoaicentral position in the tower.

Figure S'is'a'sioleview of said unit.

Figured is a longitudinal section of the same on the line 44'of Figure3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary. longitudinal section ofthe unit showing a modified form of yieldable connection.

Figure 6 is a fragmentaryplan view, partly in section, of the other unit of the device.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary side view of the same. Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the device comprises a pair of separate units A and B, ex-

tending across the tower T' to one side of the vertical center thereof and rigidly connected thereto as will be hereinafter seen. These units 7 are disposed in longitudinal alinement and their adjacent-ends are normally separated a distance lessthan thediameter. of the drill pipe P.

1 The mainiunit A comprises three sections 1, 2 and'3'jsubstantially of channel-shaped form in section, and of such total length as to extend from one sideof'the tower to a point adjacent the transverse vertical center thereof. The sections 2 and ,3. aresubstantially the same length while the section 1 is relatively long and isfsecured at itsouter end to a cross member M; of

' the tower on said side- Said section isalso braced againsthorizontal deflection by-a diagonal bar 4 securedto the-section and to the member M.

' Thesections 1 and 2 are pivotallyconnected together for relative swivel movement in a hori- 5 z'ontal lane by a'b'olt or pin 5, while the sections 2 and 3 are connected together for similar movement by a pivot bolt 6. The section 1 at its pivoted end projects into the section 2 so as to" engage the back of the same, as shown in Figure 4, so that the latter section can only swing in one 3 direction relative to the section 1, and which direction is outwardlyor away from the center of the tower and the drill rig block D hung therein.

Such swivel or breaking movement of the section 2 is yieldably resisted by suitable spring means. In the type shown in Figures Band 4 such spring comprises a central spiral portion 7 disposed about a sleeve 8 mounted on a pin 9 extending across the section 2, and tangentially extending legs 10 tending to approach each other, one of which bears against the back of the memher 2 and the other against a cross rib 11 in said section 1 below the pivot bolt 5. If the sections break relative to each other therefore-the ten-' 7 sion of the spring legs will be increased, tending II to restore the sections to their normal alined position. The same action may be obtained by using a tension spring 12 of the helical type, one end of which is fastened to the section 2a and the other end to the rib lla of'the section 10!. above and in front of the pivot bolt 501. as shown in Figure 5; In both cases the springs are wholly disposed be-' tween the side walls of the sections so that they cannot be struck or damaged by the block D or by lengthsof drill pipe.

The'sections 2 and 3 engage each other at the back when theyare-longitudinally alined as shown. at 13, so that the section 2 can only break toward 1 the-center of'the tower or in the oppositedirection to thebreaking of'the' section '2. Such breaking is normally prevented and the sections Z'an'd 3=- maintained rigidly in alin'ement by toggle links '14 and '15'norm'ally disposed between the sides of the sections and pivoted together at their adjacent ends as shown at 16. The link 14 is preferably pivoted on the pint) to the sides of the spring 7-, while the link 15 is pivotedon the section 3 toward its outer end by a cross pin 17. A tensionspring 18 acts'on the link 15 at itspivoted end to swing the same inwardly of the section, or to a normal position wherein'the pivot 16 is inwardlyof a dead center positionrelative 'to the link pivots9- and 17. The drill pipe resting or strikingagainst' the outer face of the section 3 can not therefore cause the section to swing toward the center of the tower, but on the contrary will only tend to: make the dead center lock of the links more posi- This dead center lock however can be broken at will to permit swinging of the section 3 toward the center of the tower by means of a trigger bar or rod 19. This bar extends through a transverse slot 20 in one side of the section 2 back of the toggle and near the pivot 16, and is pivoted at its opposite end on the corresponding side of the section. as shown at 21 in Figure 3, for transverse swinging movement. The end of the rod 19 beyond the slot is provided with an eye 19a for direct engagement by the foot of the operator, but may be connected to a rope 22 which extends to an operators platform on a higher level on the tower.

The slot 20 is of SLlfilClEIlt length so that when the rod is pulled to the opposite end of the same, it will have pressed the toggle links past a dead center position to break the lock, so that pressure against the outer face of the section 3, as when a drill pipe is resting against the same, will cause'the links to buckle further and said section to break inwardly. This will widen the space between this section and the adjacent end of the unit B sufficiently to permit the passage of the drill pipe therethrough.

The unit B comprises the pair of sections 23 and 24 pivoted together by a bolt 25 for relative swivel movement in a horizontal plane. The section 24 is relatively long and is the outermost one, being secured to the cross member M of the tower on the side opposite that to which the section 1 is secured, and also to the platform railing R of the raceway of the tower. The sections 23 and 24 are also of channel-shaped form, with their backs facing inwardly of the tower and normally engaging each other at their adjacent ends to pre- 3 vent inward breaking of the section 23 as shown in Figure 6.

The breaking in the opposite direction is yieldably resisted by a tension spring 26 secured at one end to a cross pin 27 in the section 24 and at the other end to a bracket 28 secured to the back of the section 23; the adjacent end of said spring being in a plane back of the pivot bolt 25.-

From the above description it will be seen that the units A and B form a continuous guard across the tower, while themselves being out of the way of the block D and also keeping any piping stored in the tower from interfering with the block. At the same time the portions of the units adjacent the block can yield away from the same so as not :"1 to be damaged if struck thereby, and any pipe desired to be moved into a central position in the tower can get past the guard by the controlled manipulation of the toggle trigger.

I may also provide a spring pressed latch 29 I on the section 2 to engage the link 14 whenthe section 3 is in a fully open position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. The latch automatically moves out of the way by the pressure of the link in an opening direction, and is released to allow spring 10 to straighten out the toggle by suitable means such as a pedal arm 30 applied to the latch and disposed on the outer upper side of the section 2. By this means the section 2 may be held in position to allow a pipe to be withdrawn qthrough the opening between the units from a central position in the tower.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

' While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a Well drilling tower, separate guard units extending across and mounted on the tower to one side of the center thereof, the adjacent ends of said units being normally alined and spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of a drill pipe, one of said units comprising sections pivoted together for relative horizontal movement, means permitting movement of the section nearest the other unit only toward the center of the tower whereby to increase the width of the space between the units, and releasable means normally locking said section against such movement.

2. A structure as in claim 1, in which said last named means comprises toggle links pivoted together and to the sections inwardly of their pivot, said links being arranged, when the sections are alined, to assume a locked position beyond dead center relative to the direction of swinging movement of said movable section, and manual means to initially shift the links in the opposite direction to break the dead centerlock.

3. A structure as in claim 1, in which said last named means comprises toggle links pivoted together and to the sectionsinwardly oftheir pivot, said links being arranged, when the sections are alined, to assume a locked position beyond dead center relative to the direction of swinging movement of said movable section, and a trigger rod. extending transversely of and behind the links to engage one of the same, and means pivoting the rod on one side of the unit for swinging movement transversely thereof; the opposite side of the unit having a transverse slot through which the rod projects to expose it for actuation.

4. In combination with a well drilling tower, separate guard units extending across and mounted on the tower to one side of the center there of, the adjacent ends of said units being normally alined and spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of a drill pipe, one of said units comprising three sections pivoted together, one section being rigid with and projecting from one side of the tower; the second section beingcapable of swinging movement only outwardly relative to the center of the tower, and the third section being capable of swinging movement only toward the center of the tower, means yieldably resisting such movement of the second section, and means releasably preventing movement of. the third section. V V v 5. In combination with a well drilling tower, separate guard units extending across .and mounted on the tower to one side of the center thereof, the adjacent ends of said units being normally alined and spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of a drill pipe rneans mounting the portion of one unit nearest the other unit) for movement to increase the width of the spac ing between the units sufficient to permit of'th'e passage of a drill pipe therethrough, and rel'eas able means normally holding said portion against such movement. Q j

6. In combination with a well drilling tower, separate guard units extending across and. mounted on the tower to one side of the center: thereof, the adjacent ends of said units being normally alined and spaced apart aldistance less.

vided with one unit and operable at will to increase the width of the space between the units sufiiciently to permit of the passage of a drill pipe therethrough.

7. A structure as in claim 1, with releasable latch means to hold said section against retractive movement after it has moved toward the center of the tower a predetermined distance.

8. A structure as in claim 1, with spring means tending to return said section to its normal position.

9. A structure as in claim 1, with spring means tending to return said section to its normal position, and releasable latch means to hold said section in a moved position and preventing said spring means from functioning.

10. A guard structure for a well drilling tower comprising separate guard units adapted to extend across and to be mounted on the tower to one side of the center thereof, the adjacent ends of said units being normally alined and spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of a drill pipe; one of said units comprising an inner end section pivotally mounted for horizontal movement only toward the center of the tower and the other unit comprising an inner end section pivotally mounted for horizontal movement only away from the center of the tower.

RAY R. CLARK. 

